Cabrillo Marine Aquarium facts for kids
Main entrance
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| Date opened | 1935 |
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| Location | San Pedro, California, USA |
| Coordinates | 33°42′41″N 118°17′08″W / 33.711275°N 118.285453°W |
| Memberships | Association of Zoos and Aquariums |
The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is a fun public aquarium located in San Pedro, California. It's a great place to learn all about the ocean and the amazing creatures that live in the waters of Southern California. You can explore different displays and join cool educational programs. The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks operates this aquarium.
The aquarium started in a smaller building. Later, it moved to a much bigger and more modern building designed by a famous architect named Frank Gehry in 1981. The aquarium has grown even more since then!
Contents
History of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
How the Aquarium Started
The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium first opened its doors in 1935. Back then, it was a small collection of ocean specimens kept in the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse. It was a humble beginning for what would become a popular learning center.
John Olguin and Early Growth
In 1949, a special person named John Olguin became the director. He was the captain of the Cabrillo Beach lifeguards. John Olguin made the aquarium very popular. He loved giving tours to school groups who visited. He also started a famous evening program where people could watch and learn about the unique grunion fish. These fish come onto the beach to lay their eggs!
A New Home and More Programs
A brand new, larger museum building opened on October 21, 1981. This building cost $3 million and was designed by the famous architect Frank Gehry. The old museum then closed its doors.
Through the 1990s, the aquarium grew a lot. In 1993, its name changed from Cabrillo Marine Museum to Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. This change highlighted its amazing collection of living ocean animals. The aquarium added many new public programs. These included an Ocean Outreach Education program, a discovery lab, and a volunteer program for kids called Sea Rangers. A non-profit group, the Friends of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, was also created to help with funding.
Recent Expansions and Renovations
In 2004, the aquarium expanded even more. It added an Exploration Center, a beautiful courtyard, a special lab for growing aquatic animals, and a research library. In October 2010, the aquarium celebrated its 75th birthday!
During the recent global health challenges, the aquarium had to close for a while. Even though it was a tough time, the aquarium used this period to renovate many of its sections. This means visitors can now enjoy even better exhibits and facilities.
Architecture and Design
The Original Gehry Design
The main building of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is quite special. It was designed by Frank Gehry & Associates. This building is about 23,000 square feet and has one story. It includes spaces for exhibits both inside and outside. There's also an auditorium, special wet labs for scientists, and offices.
One cool thing about Gehry's design is that it shows off how the building works. You can see the electrical wires and plumbing pipes! The tanks are also free-standing, making them easy to see.
Modern Additions and Updates
In 2000, the city of Los Angeles asked Barton Phelps & Associates to plan for future expansions. A two-story addition was built, adding about 21,000 square feet. This new part holds more wet labs, offices, and the Moore Research Library. A unique screen made of fiberglass covers the front of the expanded building, giving it a modern look.
Gallery
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Sea birds on display.
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Red abalone aquaculture.
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Kellet's whelk at the aquarium.
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Virginia Reed Moore Research Library.
See also
In Spanish: Acuario marino de Cabrillo para niños
- List of works by Frank Gehry
